Uncoupling device



May 1l 1926.

A. E. SMALL UNGOUPLNG DEVICE Filed June 15, 1922 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1|||ll|||l| Il ll. IIIIMI llll Il ----.wml

May 11,1926.-

A. E. SMALL IUNCOUPLINQ DEVICE Filed June 15, l922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented ll,

NET5@ STATES .PATENT OFFRE.

ARTHUR E. SMALL, OF CHCAGO, ILLNOIS, ASSGNOR T0 'UNION METAL PRODUCTSCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

UNCOUPLNG DEVICE.

Application led June 15, 1922.

An object of the invention is to increase the bearing area of theoperating lever upon the fulcrum, thus reducing the friction, andfurthermore, to prevent its tipping` and wabbling which cause friction.

Another object is to prevent this same wabbling and tipping of the pinlifting lever, at the same time allowing the pin lifting lever tofulcrum laterally at its juncturewith the fulcrum to accommodate itselfto the fore and aft movement of the coupler Without transmitting anylateral movement to the operating lever.

Another object is to obtain a light and very strong operating lever, yetvery simple to make. f

` The stops to limit the rotative movement of the two levers in bothdirections are provided by flanging the pressed steel bracket upon whichthe fulcrum casting is mounted, or if desired, the stops may be castintegral with the fulcrum.

It will be noted that the two levers, the fulcrum and the fulcrumbracket, are all very simple to make or repair and can be as* sembled byan unskilled person and cannot be improperly applied.

Cil

'The particular formation of the operating lever makes it a shroud orhood for protecting the fulcrum and fulcrum ends of the pin lever. Thisconstruction is a protection against snow, ice, gravel, dirt or the likefrom clogging the mechanism.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a freight car with the deviceapplied thereon.

F ig. 2 is a pla-n view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the juncture of the two leversshowing the fulcrum.

Fig. 4l is an elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form.

Fig. 6 shows a washer used with form shown in Fig. 5.

Numeral 1 is the end of the car, 2 is the coupler, 3 is the coupler lockblock eye, l is the fulcrum with large` portion 5 and reduced journalportion 6 forming a shoulder for the operating lever 7.. The operatinglever 7 is preferably formed in an inverted U having spaced apart wallswith round orifices therein forming bearings in each leg of the U toaccommodate. the journal 6, the engagement of the spaced apart wallswith the fulcrum preventing lateral swing of the Serial No. 568,525.

operating lever, which swing might throw the brakeman olf of the leverif he was operating it with his foot. It is desirable to prevent thelateral swinging movement of the operating lever and yet to permit suchmovement in the pin lifting lever. rlhe pin lifting lever 8 is alsoperforated to accommodate the journal 6 and is positioned beprovidedwith projections 9on either side at a point opposite the fulcrum oradjacent thereto, which projections 9, ooacting with the walls of the Usection of the lever 7, act as a fulcrum for the pin lifting lever 6when it swings laterally to accommodate the fore and aft movement of thecoupler. The cooperation of these projections 9 and walls of said Usection also prevent the lever 8 from tipping and retain it insubstantially a vertical plane, thereby eliminating friction. The partsare held together by ordinary bolt 16 and washer 17.

The inverted U section of the operating lever 7 doubles its bearing areaon the fulcrum 6 and also prevents it from tipping and causing friction,and also acts as a watershed and prevents accumulation of any materialwhich would clog the device.

rlhe pin lifting lever 8 extends far enough into the operating lever 7to provide a heel 10 so that a downward movement of the outer end of thelever 7 causes an upward movement of the inner end of pin lifting leverat 3 and lifts the coupler lock block,

The fulcrum is fastened to a fulcrum bracket 11 which is secured to thecar by any convenient means, such as rivets ll. The lower portion isoutwardly flanged to form a stop for the pin lifting lever at 12 -and astop for the operating lever at 13. An

extreme upward movement of the lever 8 is prevented by the overlappinglever 7, which said lever 7 is stopped by flange 13 of bracket 11 orextension 15 coming in contact with the flange on the bracket nearpoint- 13.y The device is held in operative position by bolt 16 and nut17 or similar means.

The U section of the operating lever is a very simple pressingoperationand' on ae count of its form is very strong in all directions, and,therefore, may be made of very light material, preferably steel plate.

Figs. 5 and G show a modied form wherein washers 1S are applied whichhave projections or indentations 19 to serve thesame purpose as lugs 9on lever 8. The pin lifting lever 2O is then flat at the fulcrum endbeing merely perforated to seat on fulcrum VG. 'rhese wzshers may beapplied as shown or reverse thereto. Indentations may be formed in thevertical alle of the operating lever and the washers 18 omitted, whichwould accomplish the same purpose.

lf it should be desired to reverse the po sition of the U sectionaloperating lever, then, of course, the operating lever would be extendedbeyond the fulcrum to operatively engage with the pin lift-ing lever.

Vhat l claim is:

l. An uncoupling device for car couplers comprising an operating lever,a pin lifting lever, and a common fulcrum, said operating lever havingtwo bearings on said fnlcrum, and said pin lifting lever mounted on thefulcrurn between the bearings of the operating lever, said leversoperatively connected together.

2. An uncoupling device for car couplers comprising an operating leverhaving two bearings on the fulcrum, a pin lifting lever mounted on thefulcrum between `the bearings of the operating lever, and a commonfulcrum for said levers, said pin lifting lever extending beyond thefulcrum to operatively engage the operating lever.

3. An uncoupling device for car couplers comprising an operating lever,and a pin lifting lever mounted on a common fulcrum, one of said levershaving two bearings on `said fnlcrum, and the other of said leversmounted on the fnlcrum between the two bea 1ings of the iirst mentionedlever, said levers operatively connected together.

Ll. An uncoupling device for car couplers comprising an operating lever,and a pin lifting lever mounted on a common fulcrum, one of said levershaving two bearings on said fulcrum, and the other of said leversmounted on the fulcruin between the two bearings of the first mentionedlever, and extending beyond the fulcrum to operatively engage with thelir'st mentioned lever.

"J ln an iu'iconpling device for car couple'rs comprising an operatinglever having an aperture'd end forming 'two points of l'reiring on afnlcrinn, with another level' y. 'otally positioned on said fulcru'in'and overlapped Vby the apertured end of said operating lever.

(i. An un'cou'pling Ydevice for car couplers comprising a U-shapedvoperating lever, a pin lifting lever, and a common fulcrum, saidoperating lever Ahaving two bea ings on fulciun, and said lifting `levermounted on the fulcrum within the U-shape and between the bearings ofthe operating lever, said levers operatively connected together. l

l'. An uncoupling device for car couplers comprising a U-shapedoperating lever having t-wo bearings on the fulcrum within the U-shape,and a pin lifting lever mounted on the fnlcrmn between the bearings ofthe operating lever, and a common fulcrum for said levers, said pinlifting lever extending beyond the fulcrum to operatively engage theoperating lever.

8. An uncoupling device for car couplers comprising a fulcrum, anoperating lever with spaced apart walls having bearings on saiditulcrum, a pin lifting lever mounted on said fulcrrm between thesaidwalls, the distance between said walls being greater 'than thehorizontal width of said pin lifting lever, whereby the pin liftinglever may move laterally, said levers operatively connected together.

9. An nnconpling device for car couplers comprising a fnlcrum, anoperating lever with spaced apart walls having bearings on said fnlcrum,a pin lifting lever mounted Von said fulerum 'between the said walls,the distance between said walls being greater than the horizontal widthvof said pin vlifting lever, whereby the `pin lifting lever may movelate willy, said levers operatively connected together, and meansbetween said walls and said pin lifting level' to retain said pinlifting lever in substantially a vertical plane.

l0. An uncoupling device for a car c0upler comprising a fulcrum, anoperating lever with spaced apart walls having aperturestherein'engagin'g said fu'lcruin so as to provide bearings on salidfulcrum and to prevent lateral swing of said operating lever, and a pinlifting lever mounted on said fulcrum between the said walls, thedistance between said walls being greater than the horizontal width ofsaid pin lifting lever, whereby the pin lifting levei may swinglaterally, said levers operatively connected together.

ll., An uncoupling device for a car cou- `plcr comprising a fulcrum, anoperating lever with spaced apart walls having apertures thereinven'gglging said fu'lcrnm so as to provide bearings on said fulcru'myand 'to prevent lateral swing of said operatingl lever, a pin liftinglever mounted on said fulcrum between the said walls, the distancebeti'veen said walls being greater vthan the horizontal 'width of saidpin lifting lever, whereby the levers operatively connected together,,and0

pin lifting lever may swing laterally, said car coupler comprising aulcruni, an operating lever with spaced apart Walls having aperturestherein engaging said fulcrum so as to provide bearings on said fulcrumand to prevent lateral swing of said operating lever, and a pin liftinglever operatively connected to said operating lever and ful- Crumbetween said Walls, the distance between said Walls being greater thanthe normal horizontal thickness of said pin lift- 10 ing lever, thethickness of said pin lifting lever being greater at said fulcrum.

ARTHUR E. SMALL.

